Tongue-bar-supporting clamp



(No Modal.)

J. E. MOYER.

TONGUB BAR SUPPORTING CLAMP.

Patented Aug. 24,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE HECIILER NOYER, OF'TEHPL, TEXAS.

TONGUE-BAR-SUPPOTING CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,687, dated August24, 1897.

Application filed December 31, 1896. Serial No. 617,624. (No modal.)

T0 aZZ wwm it may concern- Be it known that I, J ESSE HECHLER MOYER,a,citizen of the United States, residin g at Temple, in the county ofBell and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Ton gue-Bar-Supportin g Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a supporting or temporary holding clamp formaintaining a tongue bar in operative position With relation to thehammers of a piano and thereby faciltating the connection With thetongue-bar of the means whereby the latter is adapted to be subsequentlyoperated, and, furthermore, to provide means whereby a tongue-bar may Abe supported in a piano of any ordinary construction for purpose ofexhibition without in any way modifying the construction of theinstrument or marring the finish thereof.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof Will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of clamps constructed in accordancewith my invention applied in the operative position to a tonguebar andengaged with the sides of a piano-case. Fig. 2 is a detail view inperspective of the clamp and the contiguous cxtremity of a tongue-bar.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in bothfigures of the draw ings. V

In order to illustrate the function 01' the clamp embodying myinvention, I have shown the same in connection With a tonguebar 1similar to that shown and described in my former patent, No. 573,474,granted December 22, 1896, the clamp consisting of avertically-adjustable shank or bar 2, provided with a scat 3 for theextremity 01: the bar. In the construction illustrated this scatconsists of aWire tongue secured to the shank or bar and spaced from theedge thereof to allow the extremity of the tongue-bar to be introducedtherebetween. The other member of the clamp consists of a clip 4,adapted to engage the upper edge of the side wall of a piano-case or anyother similar fixed obj cet, such as shown in dotted lines at 5 in Fig.2. This clip is provided with a guide or keeper 6, through which theshank 2 entends for adjustment, and a locking device, such as aset-screw 7, is pref erably mounted upon the guide and is adapted toimpinge against the shank t0 secure it when the desired elevation of thetongue-bar has been attained. The clip may also be provided with aset-screw 8, having a follower 9 t0 bear against the exterior surface ofthe piano-case or other support, the faces of the apparatus which comein contact With the piano-case beingpreferably padded or clothed (notshown) to avoid marring the instrument.

I have found that in exhibiting a tongucbar for sale and otherwise it isdesirable t0 employ supporting devices by which it may be arranged inthe operative position in an instrument of any size and kind, of courseof the cabinet class, in order that the effect upon the tone may beappreciated, and by the use of the clamp, as abovc described, thisobject can be obtained with facility. The clips or engaging members ofthe clamp are fastened to the upper edges of the side walls of the case,and the extremities of the tongue-bar are seated upon the shank, asabove described, when by the proper manipulation of the shank theextremities of the tongues carried by said tongue-bar may be disposed asdesired to show the operation of the device. This application and thesubsequent removal of the clamp from the instrument do not mar thefinish thereof, and hence any objection to a trial is overcome. It isalso desirable t0 employ a device of the class described in fixing thetongue-bar in the right position for making the permanent connectionthercwith, inasmuch as the efiicient operation of the device dependsupon the arrangement thereof in a certain definite position withrelation to the hammers and strings of the instrument.

I have found also that it is nccessary in or der-t0 enable a salesman toapply a tonguebar to pianos of different sizes, when it is undesirablcto carry more than one tongue-bar,

to provide means whereby the length of said tongue-bar may be adjusted,and hence I em ploy an auxiliary section or slide 10, fitted in clips 11on the tongue-bar or otherwise connected therewith for longitudinaladjustment, as shown in the drawings.

It Will be seen that the seats 3 are open at their npper sides to allowthe extremities of the bar to be fitted therein after the clamps havebeen arranged in position, and also facilitating the disengagement ofthe shanks of the clamps from the bars after the permanent attachment ofthe latter to an instrument has been effected.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted t0 withont departing from the spirit orsaerficing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. Atongne-bar-supporting clamp having a guide, and means for attaching thesame to a fixed part of a piano, and a shank adjnstably fitted in saidguide and provided Wllh a scat for the extremity of a tongne-bar,substantially as specified.

2. A tongne-bar-snpporting clamp having a guide provided With means forengagement With a fixed part of a pian o-frame, and a shank adj ustablyfitted in said guide, and provided with a scat having an open npper sidefor the reception of the extremity of a fougue-bar, substantially asspecified.

3. A tongne-bar-snpporting clamp having a guide, a clip carryng saidguide and adapted to engage the upper edge of a piano-case, a shankadjustably fitted in said guide and provided with a scat for theextrernity of a tongne-bar, and a locking deviee for secnring the shankat the desired adjnstment, sub- Stantially as specified.

AL. The combination Of a supporting-clamp having a guide and means forsecuring the same t0 a fixed part of a piano-frame, and a shank adjnstably fitted in said guide and provided With a scat, with anextensible tongne-bar provided with an anxiliary member or slide adaptedto fit in said scat, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim tl1e foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed1ny signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JESSE HECHLER NOYER.

Witnesses:

II. Il. SWINK, G. W. ROWLAND.

